How can Louisiana better equip its citizens for future STEM positions?

Occupations in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) are projected to grow by nearly 10% over the next five years. Experts estimate Louisiana alone will have 69,000 STEM job vacancies by 2018. But who will fill these positions?

Nationwide, more than 300,000 jobs are currently being left vacant because employers can’t find individuals skilled enough in STEM. In Louisiana, 40% of eighth-graders report never designing a science project. Only 3% of high-school seniors take advance college placement tests in science. While male students have shown a recent increased interest in STEM, Louisiana females’ interest has been decreasing since 2008.

So, how can Louisiana better equip its citizens for future STEM positions? Are Louisiana’s educators adequately prepared to teach STEM courses? And how can students be encouraged to pursue STEM careers? Louisiana Public Square looks for answers to these questions and more on “STEM Status: Science, Technology, Engineering & Math in Louisiana” airing Wednesday, December 18, at 7 p.m. on LPB HD.

This program is made possible in part through a grant from Dow Chemical Company.

Middle skills jobs such as many of those in STEM that require education or skills less than a four year degree have seen shortages nationwide including Louisiana. The push to incorporate STEM into secondary education is seeing its rewards. What can be done about those without high school diplomas or GEDs that hold employment in constructions jobs throughout the state? They have the hands-on foundational skills that can be built upon to mold them into the ideal STEM employee. Curt Eysink touched on it when he said that there are more people jobs available than those skilled to take them. It is the perfect opportunity to train these able bodies instead of fretting over those that moved away.

I have plenty to say on this subject; in fact I wrote my graduate thesis on High School Drop Out and Middle Skills job gap.